I'm using an Axminster 350, fitted with their bolt-on bearing guide
set on the upper guide only. It's not a good guide set, it doesn't
fit the saw well and I've long abandoned using it on the bottom.
For straight cutting with 1/2" or 3/8" blades this all works well.
But I've just destroyed _another_ 1/4" blade owing to a bearing-jump
and a bent blade. I should have re-fitted the Cool Block guides, as
I'd do for using blades narrower than 1/4".
What is a practical limit on using narrow blades with bearings ? How
narrow can you go ? Is this inherent to bearings, or are better
guides more flexible than cheap ones ?
--
Smert' spamionam
I don't have much experience with narrow blades and various guide
options. However, I just read a review in American Woodworker that
spoke directly to this issue that you may find helpful.
http://www.rd.com/americanwoodworker/toolguide/TT_Bandsaws.pdf
Lars
On 2004-11-21 08:32:41 -0600, Andy Dingley <[email protected]> said:
> I'm using an Axminster 350, fitted with their bolt-on bearing guide
> set on the upper guide only. It's not a good guide set, it doesn't
> fit the saw well and I've long abandoned using it on the bottom.
>
> For straight cutting with 1/2" or 3/8" blades this all works well.
> But I've just destroyed _another_ 1/4" blade owing to a bearing-jump
> and a bent blade. I should have re-fitted the Cool Block guides, as
> I'd do for using blades narrower than 1/4".
>
> What is a practical limit on using narrow blades with bearings ? How
> narrow can you go ? Is this inherent to bearings, or are better
> guides more flexible than cheap ones ?
Great review! Thanks for the tip
Lars wrote:
> I don't have much experience with narrow blades and various guide
> options. However, I just read a review in American Woodworker that spoke
> directly to this issue that you may find helpful.
>
> http://www.rd.com/americanwoodworker/toolguide/TT_Bandsaws.pdf
>
> Lars
>
> On 2004-11-21 08:32:41 -0600, Andy Dingley <[email protected]> said:
>
>> I'm using an Axminster 350, fitted with their bolt-on bearing guide
>> set on the upper guide only. It's not a good guide set, it doesn't
>> fit the saw well and I've long abandoned using it on the bottom.
>>
>> For straight cutting with 1/2" or 3/8" blades this all works well.
>> But I've just destroyed _another_ 1/4" blade owing to a bearing-jump
>> and a bent blade. I should have re-fitted the Cool Block guides, as
>> I'd do for using blades narrower than 1/4".
>>
>> What is a practical limit on using narrow blades with bearings ? How
>> narrow can you go ? Is this inherent to bearings, or are better
>> guides more flexible than cheap ones ?
>
>
>